Jack of the Lantern

Jack of the Lantern

(Verse 1)

Old Jack was a drifter, sly and mean,

The trickiest soul you’ve ever seen.

He met the Devil one cold dark night,

Said, “Buy me a drink and we’ll set things right.”

He trapped that demon in a silver coin,

Laughed till the moonlight cut his grin in twine.

The Devil swore, “You’ll never see hell,”

And Jack said, “Fine — I’ll fool heaven as well.”

(Chorus)

Oh, Jack of the Lantern, lost on the wind,

A deal with the Devil did him in.

No rest in heaven, no home in hell,

Just a ghost with a glow and a story to tell.

(Verse 2)

Years rolled by and Jack grew old,

His heart like ice, his hands grown cold.

He knocked on Heaven’s shining gate,

But Saint Peter said, “Son, it’s far too late.”

Down he went to the fires below,

But the Devil just laughed, said, “Didn’t you know?

A promise is a promise — I can’t let you in.”

So Jack took his coal and his life of sin.

(Chorus)

Oh, Jack of the Lantern, lost on the wind,

A deal with the Devil did him in.

No rest in heaven, no home in hell,

Just a ghost with a glow and a story to tell.

(Verse 3)

He hollowed a turnip to hold that flame,

And wandered the earth with his cursed name.

From Ireland’s moors to the ocean’s roar,

His light still flickers on every shore.

When the Irish came to the new world’s land,

They carved out pumpkins with careful hands.

So when the night is cold and the stars grow thin,

We light that fire to keep Jack out—and in.

(Chorus)

Oh, Jack of the Lantern, lost on the wind,

A deal with the Devil did him in.

No rest in heaven, no home in hell,

Just a ghost with a glow and a story to tell.

(Outro – Spoken or Sung Softly)

So if you see a flicker where no flame should be,

Don’t follow the glow — let Jack be.

For the Devil still laughs when his coal burns bright,

And old Jack walks on through the endless night.

His lantern swings where the shadows creep,

A promise unbroken, and no soul to keep…